| Duration: | 6 Day(s) - 5 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Nature Tours |
Route: Jungar Alatau, Almaty Region (Kazakhstan)
Season: Middle of May (approx. May 12-17)
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1. Almaty - Taldykorgan - Sarkand - Osinovy Cordon
Departure from Almaty at 07:00. Arrive in Taldykorgan at 11:00 and visit the Local History Museum of Almaty Region. Lunch and transfer to Sarkand. Arrival in Sarkand.
Sarkand was mentioned for the first time in Shokan Valikhanov’s articles about the Semirechye study. These references date back to 1857 the last century.
Initially, Sarkand was a village, based on Siberian Cossacks. The first solid settlements appeared on the banks of the Sarkand River in 1858, when 22 families relocated from Kopal and Lepsinsk counties. In 1872, the first school was opened there.
In 1928 Sarkand District was formed. It was composed of Cherkassk and Lepsinsk counties. Since 1964, Sarkand was an urban-type settlement, and in 1968 it was transformed into a city. Today it is a small but very pretty town. The main activities of the locals are agriculture, and the production of excellent wines. There is even a small brewery and a cheese production plant.
Transfer to Osinovy cordon. Accommodation on the cordon, dinner.
Day 2. Osinovy Cordon
Breakfast. Then walk to the genetic reserves in Pikhtovoe and Soldatskoye gorges, which are natural places of growth of wild plantations of Sievers apple tree.
According to excavations, the Sievers apple tree existed in the middle of the Cretaceous period. The biological dictionary of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR dates the time of origin of the Sievers apple tree - to 165 million years ago. The Kazakhs, who lived here in the foothills, grew not only cereals but also planted fruit trees from the best forms of the Kazakh wild apple tree.
Through these places, in ancient times, the Great Silk Road ran. From here, along with the caravans, the apple tree began to spread east and west. Johann Sievers, a botanist from St. Petersburg, was the first who had paid attention to this apple tree and visited the Tarbagatai mountains. At the Kazakh village of Urdzhar, Sievers first described these apples in 1796.
Return to the cordon. Dinner and overnight at the cordon.
Day 3. Osinovy Cordon - Lepsinsk - Black River Cordon
Breakfast. Transfer to Lepsinsk (37 km) and visit a nursery of plants where more than 18 tree species are grown. In the nursery, tourists will get acquainted with the technology of cultivation of Sievers apple trees, main planting activities, and caring for young plants.
According to artifacts, it can be said that the Lepsinsk area was already populated in the XII century. This is evidenced by the finding of the burial stone - Bal-Bal, dating from the XII-X century. According to the stories of old-timers, there were three mounds in Lepsinsk with the Turkic stone sculptures of granite.
The first is lying on the steps of the village council, the second stands at the house of a resident, and the third, according to the stories, is buried in an area of Amur spring. In 1390, during a campaign deep into Moghulistan, Amir Timur piled mounds on Uygenta's pass near Lepsinsk. By such mounds, he designated the boundaries of his empire. On personal things, he set his mark in the form of three rings.
This sign was found in 1994 at the foot of Kok-Tobe mountain, near Lepsinsk. The modern history of Lepsinsk begins in 1822. Abolishment of Khan's power gave rise to the petition to join the Kazakh clan of Usun in Russia. But the first attempts were unsuccessful. Only in 1846, an agreement on the inclusion of the Semirechensk region into Russia and the appointment of Lepsinsk was signed. This is only a small part of the interesting story of a small village, all the most interesting you will hear from the local old-timers.
Lunch and rest. Transfer to the Black River cordon and sightseeing at genetic reserves. Dinner and rest. Overnight at the cordon.
Day 4. Black River Cordon
Breakfast. Walking and inspection of plants and wildlife. Dinner and night on the cordon "Black River".
Day 5. Black River Cordon - Lepsinsk
Wake up, breakfast. Transfer to Lepsinsk village. Visit the local history museum, walk around the village, and communicate with residents. Lunch - picnic in nature with a view of Lepsinsk. Transfer to the guest house, dinner, and sauna. Overnight at the guest house.
Day 6. Lepsinsk - Sarkand - Taldykorgan - Almaty
Breakfast and departure to Almaty. Lunch is on the way. Arrival in Almaty at approx. 20:00.
TOUR PRICE: On request
TOUR PRICE INCLUSIONS:
1. Transport services on the entire route
2. Accommodation on the cordons of foresters in guest houses
3. Meals, indicated in the program
4. Guide service
5. All environmental and admission fees
6. Permission to enter the border zone
TOUR PRICE EXCLUSIONS:
1. Meals not indicated in the program and/or not included in the tour price
2. Accommodation in Almaty, if required
3. Visa support and registration on the territory of Kazakhstan, if required
4. Personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program
